Macy’s Advances Diversity Initiative

Macy’s is advancing a five-point diversity initiative to reflect the diversity of the customers and communities it serves. As part of this effort, the company has set goals and outlined specific strategies to increase its impact.

“We are proud of the work we’ve done over the last 10 years to become a more inclusive organization. Today’s announcement marks the next step on our journey as we continue to challenge ourselves to do more,” said Shawn Outler, chief diversity officer of Macy’s. “The strategy and goals we’ve set put us on a clear path to becoming best-in-class, and we hope to be the beacon of change that motivates other retailers and companies outside of our industry to do the same.”

The new vision is centered on five key focus areas of impact opportunity within the company’s customer base, marketing, colleagues, suppliers and community. Each focus area has specific performance objectives for 2019 and beyond.

These include to strengthen the retailer’s commitment to welcome, accept and respect every one of its customers. The newly updated and expanded Customer Bill of Rights will be in every Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s store by the start of the 2019 holiday season. The company has also launched inclusive workplace training to ensure that its 130,000 colleagues understand how to identify and mitigate bias when interacting with customers and each other.

The company will also reflect and reach the full spectrum of customers in their imagery, messages and experience, and require 50% representation of gender/gender identity, ethnicity, age, size and differently abled subjects in advertising by 2020.

Reflecting the full spectrum of diversity at all levels of the workforce, the company will look to achieve more ethnic diversity by 2025 at senior director level and above, with a goal of 30%.

The retailer added that it will aim to drive growth with under-represented suppliers, achieving a diverse supplier spend of at least 5% by 2021. Macy’s aims to increase expenditures with suppliers who bring unique merchandise and perspectives, contribute to the economic health of local communities, and help grow the number of diverse suppliers in the retail industry.

Additionally, business accelerator programs like The Workshop at Macy’s, equip participants with a new perspective on how to create effective, large-scale supplier relationships. Since its inception in 2011, approximately 125 businesses have graduated from the program.

Macy’s said it will also build meaningful relationships with community partners whose objectives align with business goals and company values. Macy’s commitment to drive economic growth, while reinforcing social good, is reflected in its multicultural community work and the company is partnering with organizations across the United States to develop and fund specific programs that help create meaningful impact. In 2019, Macy’s will launch economic development partnerships in at least five cities in collaboration with its business accelerators such as The Workshop at Macy’s, The Market @ Macy’s, and Story.

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